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Culture/period

Date

Production place

Materials

Ware

Technique

Dimensions

Height: 25.4 centimetres

Length: 13 centimetres

Curator's comments

This okimono is a fine example of classic Kakiemon style that flourished between 1670-1700. In the Edo period, when a boy reached a three or five years old, there was a special ceremony where he would don a special robe and this work is thought to reflect this ceremony. The body is made from nigoshide porcelain, which is a special blend of porcelain stone that has been carefully verigated. This technique which gave a creamy white appearance to the body in imitation of Dehua Chinese porcelain was developed exclusively by the Kakiemon kiln in the late 17th century. As a rule, no underglaze cobalt blue would be used on these works as it would give the overall body a blue sheen. However, unsusually the lines on top of the go board are articulated in cobalt blue. At the back of the go board, there is a small opening allowing water to be poured into or from the go board. Professor Ohashi Koji has commented that while this type of okimono is not rare, he has never seen such an opening in any other work of its kind.